When is the best time to plant watermelons in the south?

Watermelon is a very popular fruit . In China's agricultural planting areas , especially in fruit and vegetable planting areas, many people grow watermelon . So when is the best time to plant watermelons in the south? Let’s learn more about it below.

When is the best time to plant watermelons in the south?

In southern China, the climate is warm and humid, which is very suitable for growing watermelons. For open-field cultivation in the south in early spring, the best time for sowing is generally when the ground temperature is stable at around 15°C. Seedlings are usually sown in mid-to-late March, transplanted in mid-to-late April, and harvested in late June. If it is planted in a greenhouse , the time can be advanced to around February.

Planting method of watermelon in the south

1. Variety selection

The climatic conditions in the southern region are more complex, so it is very important to choose watermelon varieties that are suitable for local climate and soil conditions. Generally speaking, southern watermelon varieties should be disease-resistant, heat-resistant, moisture-resistant, and early-maturing.

2. Land requirements

There is more rain in the south, so the land should be selected on a higher ground with good drainage. Before planting, deep plowing, sufficient base fertilizer should be applied, and the soil should be disinfected to reduce the occurrence of diseases and pests.

3. Planting seeds

When sowing, the seeds should be evenly spread in the soil and covered with a thin layer of soil. To keep the soil moist, cover it with a film after sowing.

4. Transplantation

The standard for transplanting and planting watermelons is three leaves and one heart. They can also be transplanted and planted when the seedlings are 10-15 cm tall. The planting density can be based on a plant spacing of about 40 cm. In order to reduce root damage to seedlings and enhance their resistance to stress, it is best to carry out low-temperature hardening of the seedlings one week before transplanting and planting. On the other hand, it is best to water the seedlings thoroughly once before transplanting, and then transplant the seedlings with soil. After transplanting and planting, water the seedlings in time, and after the water has completely infiltrated into the soil, cover the ground with film or straw to keep warm and moist.

5. Fertilization management

About 7 days after the watermelon seedlings are planted, 5 kg of quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer can be applied per mu to promote the growth of the seedlings. After the watermelon enters the vine-stretching stage or the young fruits on the seedlings grow to the size of eggs, topdressing can be done at the rate of 10-12 kg of nitrogen fertilizer + 6-8 kg of potassium sulfate fertilizer + 10 kg of compound fertilizer per mu. When the young fruits grow to the size of a bowl or about 10-15 days after the last topdressing, topdressing can be done again at the rate of 8-10 kg of nitrogen fertilizer + 10-15 kg of potassium sulfate fertilizer per mu. When the watermelon enters the harvest period, topdressing can be done once after each harvest at the rate of 10 kg of each nitrogen fertilizer and potassium sulfate fertilizer per mu to prevent problems such as lack of fertilizer and premature aging that affect yield.

6. Watering management

Watermelon generally needs to be watered at least 2-3 times during its growing period. When the watermelon begins to sprout and spread its leaves, you can water it in small amounts to retain moisture, but do not water it too heavily. When the seedlings are stretching and growing leaves in large numbers, you need to increase the amount of watering and water it with enough "vine stretching water" once. When the watermelon enters the flowering to fruit swelling period, this is the period when the watermelon requires the most water during its entire growing period, and you should water it with enough "melon swelling water" in time. After that, watering should be decided flexibly according to the dryness and wetness of the soil and the climatic conditions, but watering should be stopped immediately 7-10 days before the watermelon is harvested. When watering, pay attention to watering frequently with small amounts of water, and do not flood with large amounts of water. You can choose to water in the morning on a sunny day, but after watering, you must cultivate and loosen the soil in time to prevent the soil from becoming compacted and airtight.

7. Pollination management

Watermelon needs artificial assisted pollination, especially when there are few flowers, little pollen and unfavorable pollination conditions. The best time for pollination is between 8 and 11 in the morning. As for the pollination method, you can first collect the newly opened male flowers and remove the petals to expose the stamens. Then, gently apply the pollen on the stigma of the blooming female flowers for a week. Apply it evenly and carefully, without any excess or omissions, to prevent deformed fruits.

8. Thinning flowers and fruits

When thinning flowers, remove the high-level secondary buds that bloom late and easily become ineffective flowers, and remove weak flowers, diseased flowers, and dense flowers at the same time. When thinning fruits, when the watermelons grow to the size of eggs, select 1-2 healthy and well-developed watermelons from each plant after the seedlings have 12 nodes. When the young watermelons grow to a diameter of about 12 cm, remove the densely grown small watermelons, diseased and deformed watermelons in time, and retain 1 high-quality fruit with a reasonable node position and a correct fruit shape from each plant.

That’s it